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More than 100 vivid, graphic comparison pictures illustrate every point in this revised classic and can help any photographer maximize the creative impact of his or her exposure decisions. Peterson stresses the importance of metering the subject for a starting exposure, and then explains how to use various exposure meters and different kinds of lighting. The book contains lessons on each element of the exposure-aperature, shutter speed, iso-and how it relates to the other two in terms of depth of field, freezing and blurring action, and shooting in low light or at night. A section on special techniques explores such options as deliberate under- and overexposures, how to produce double exposures, bracketing, shooting the moon, and the use of filters. Understanding Exposure demonstrates that there are always creative choices about how to expose a picture-and that the decision is up to the photographer, not the camera.

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bryan Peterson is the author of the best-selling Learning to See Creatively and writes a photography column "Picture Points," for Popular Photography Magazine. His many photographic awards include the Communication Arts Photography Annual (eight times), Print Magazine's Design Annual (four times), and the New York Art Directors Gold Award. He lives in Seattle and Lyon, France.

Top customer reviews

I love the way Bryan Peterson writes his books. They are so down to earth in their explanations. He has also included so much information without cluttering the writing. So many photo books talk way above the normal--just learning-- person. That will cause the person to get discouraged instead of being encouraged in the photography field. I can speak from that first hand. I have purchased books to try to be a better photographer only to find the more I read the more confused I became. The way that "Understanding Exposure" is written, it does not do that. It is written all the way to the end with the basic photographer in mind. It is not to say that more advanced photographers can not gain extra knowledge from this book, by all means they can== with all the hints it is a wealth of information. I love the photo examples along with the settings that were used on the camera. The photos are beautiful.It has sections for shutter speed, aperture,light as well as special techniques and filters. It even has a chapter on film vs. digital. The opening chapter is just that, an introduction to exposure. So many times it is the exposure settings we can not get right and this book will definitely do the job. I have a much better understanding of what the basic terms are and how they are applied. I keep this book handy as there are times I second guess myself and this is a great go back to reference as well. I think if you are a beginning photographer or a seasoned veteran you can still pick up some great ideas from this book

This is a fantastic resource for any photographer. Learning and understanding exposure in photography can seem overwhelming at first, but it is crucial to becoming a great photographer. The author does a fantastic job of explaining how to adjust for different photography types such as macro photography and night photography. He also explains how to expose for all types of lighting situations (back-lit, front-lit, and side-lit). It also helps in adjusting your camera settings for stationary and moving objects in photos. The author covers so many situations and the best techniques, tools, and settings to use to capture great and creative photographs. The book is very well written and the author comes across as friendly and conversational. I read, re-read, and studied this book. Then I used the information and practiced, practiced, practiced with my camera. The photographs and captions in the book are very helpful, as well as the exercises. I was determined to use my camera in Manual Mode with a complete understanding of ISO, shutter speed, and aperture- and this book was instrumental in helping me. I took photography classes for months, but I learned more about exposure and understanding my camera from this book.

There are tons of reviews on this book so I will get straight to the point - get it.

It covers all the basics, and explains them in a way anyone can understand. The author is very good at speaking to film users, digital SLR, and even point and shoot users at the same time. Even though this book doesn't have an attention grabbing title like "How to take amazing pictures!" or "999 Photo tips to make you rich!!", now you know why they say you can't judge a book by its cover.

Get this book and you'll pretty much have almost everything you need. Once you decide to get into a specialty area of photography (macro, landscape, portraits), you can get a more specific book, but for beginners, and even amateurs who kind of know what they are doing but could use some guidance - this is the one to get. You will not be disappointed.

This is exactly what I needed. The way the book breaks down how you create a great exposure is perfect. I have never heard the relationship between Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO explained the way this book did. If you are just starting out, brand new or want a book with great exercises to help you expand the type of photographs you are taking, this is the book for you. The exercises really helped tie in the chapter I just finished reading. The photograph examples flow perfectly with each chapter and exercise. I am so happy that a friend told me to pick this up. I will be going over it again and again!

As a serious hobbyist with no formal training, I was a bit concerned about how much I could really learn from this book. My experience comes primarily from reading text books, how to books, and from hands on experience. Prior to reading this book I had a basic understanding of exposure already.

Exposure is a concern for both film and digital cameras alike. A chapter titled "Film vs. Digital" helps to explain some of the differences. There are many inspiring color images showing both how your camera's metering is fooled, and the methods of correcting the exposure. Topics include filter options and exposing for low light, backlit, overcast weather and motion photography.

After reading "Understanding Exposure" from cover to cover I can say without doubt reading this book changed the way I comprehend exposure. Bryan Peterson has a simple and clear method of explaining exposure. I didn't really learn as much as I gained a deeper understanding and a fresh perspective of the subject. I also learned a few tricks along the way.

If you have mastered the subject, this book is not for you. However, if you are a beginner with no understanding of how aperture, shutter speed and ISO work together, get this easy to understand book. If you already have a basic understanding, this book will help fill in the missing pieces.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. As a newcomer to photography, it was great to see a lot of the concepts I've been reading about explained so clearly, with examples that bring them to life. It was a quick, enjoyable read, but plan on holding onto the book as a reference material.